Hope i can ask this here

[m3bfs]

apologies if i shouldn't have.

I'm becoming addicted to this forum, can't wait to get started growing so that we can eat, preserve, brew etc.

but the question is, even at my old age, i'm a relative newbie to cooking from scratch (have dabbled a bit over the years) and was wondering if anybody knows of a forum for buying, preparing, cooking etc decent proper food like in those olden days. I have looked but not found anything that seems as good as this forum (is in for growing your own). Just was wondering if any 'Grapes' can take me by the hand and lead me in the right direction by recommendation.

many thanks

m3bfs

[bubblewrap]

Here are a few books that may help!
Amazon.co.uk: cooking from scratch

[Two_Sheds]

What sort of food do you like?
I am a whizz at curries, chilli, anything stew like. One pot wonders!

[bubblewrap]

What sort of food do you like?
I am a whizz at curries, chilli, anything stew like. One pot wonders!

Less washing up then.

[Two_Sheds]

was wondering if anybody knows of a forum for buying, preparing, cooking etc decent proper food like in those olden days. I have looked but not found anything that seems as good as this forum (is in for growing your own).

Are you looking for recipes (we have some in the Season to Taste section), or are you wanting to just chat about cooking in general?

If you want to learn to cook, I'd stay away from forums ... you'll spend all your time chatting not cooking (ask Lynda)

I learned to cook from a book called Grub on a Grant ... it was a basic student cookbook, but taught me the very basics like how to saute onions - the basis for nearly all my dishes now
There'll be better books available now, but to get started today, just think of a dish you'd like to cook, and google it for a recipe.
Cooking is easy ... you just have a list of ingredients, and do them in the order it says. It only gets hard if you let Mr Sheds do some freestyling in the kitchen

[Nicos]

I just Google for recipe/tecniques - if they have a name or 'cooking with....'or 'simple recipe for.....' in Google....you'll get addicted to that too!!!

I think it's wonderful you're doing all this!


ps- you can always pester some of the expert chefs we have on here- I've always thoroughly enjoyed the recipes I've tried from the Vine!!

[ailsasyl]

The Australian woman weekly cookbooks are great got these for HB as she learned not too simply but still easy and every day ingrediants and not too expensive for the book lots of the cheap bookstore have them some supermarkets as well

[Two_Sheds]

The trouble with Aussie WW books is the measurements are all foreign ... in cups. The photos are great though.

[digthatchick]

Delia's frugal food would be a good Christmas pressie. Also her "how to cook" series I have seen book 1 available for as little as £4 (Hardback)

[FionaH]

The Hamlyn ones with pictures are great. Does help to see what its supposed to look like i find

[maytreefrannie]

I learned to cook from a book called Grub on a Grant ... it was a basic student cookbook, but taught me the very basics like how to saute onions - the basis for nearly all my dishes now

I can recommend Grub on a Grant as well - I gave it to my daughter about 10 years ago. She recently gave a similar one called The Student Cook Book to my youngest (not a student but he was going off to France), this one seems similarly clear in presentation.

I was recently given The Good Granny Cook Book (by Hugh FW's mum) - again, the good old recipes, some updated and lightened a bit.

Best of luck, m3bfs - enjoy.

[geoff]

Your local college might run evening classes or a one day a week course on cookery for beginners

also, the comment I've often made, go to your library - it will have shelves full of cookery books, all for free

[coreopsis]

Have a look at BBC Food website-some of the recipes are really simple and you get them for free.

[HeyWayne]

I haven't been to a library since my school days, but I'd guess they have all the various cookbooks (correct me if I'm wrong and library users).

The only reason I suggest the library is that you can try various different chefs "styles". Personally I don't get on with Delias recipes, or Gordon Ramseys, but I find Jamie very easy to follow and I use them over and over again.

You'll find a style that sits with you and then you'll be off.

Good luck in your quest.

[cupcake]

I have Carol Kleins Grow your own book and notice that she's brought out a Cook your own book as well (WH Smith's have them parcelled together on their bargain shelf. £12.99 I think. I have the first and ordered her veg growing diary from a well known site named after a Brazilian river. They have recommendations from buyers so you can see if they are popular.

I agree with the library tho. Every 3 weeks I get 6 books, 3 fiction, 1 gardening and 1 cooking. If I really like the gardening or cook books then I look on line and sometimes get them at a bargain price.

The Book People can be good too.